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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2016)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ OCTOBER 26, 2016 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion This time, voting is more than just a privilege There have been moments over the last several weeks where the thought of casting my vote for president in either direction has left me shaking my head. If I’m being honest, neither candidate would be my first choice under normal circum- stances. However, I think we can all agree that these are not “normal” circumstances — for our election process, our coun- try or what will follow in the four years after Nov. 8. I’ve spoken with several people who have told me that their distaste for these two candidates has soured them to the point that they will not be voting this year. In each case, they felt that voting “just for the sake of voting” was wrong, and that they didn’t want to be a part of electing either candidate into the presi- dency. I understand this. Admittedly, the same thought passed through my mind during each of the three presidential debates. But just like that late-night slice of chocolate cake before bed, the thought was a fleeting one. That’s because I have always believed that our right to vote is both a privilege and an obligation. Most years, it has simply been a privilege I enjoy as an American. I have gone to the voting booth or mailed in my ballot in support of candidates for different rea- sons. Sometimes it was because I connected with the ideals of one candidate over another. Other times it was because I privilege I enjoyed because, no matter who won, I still felt our country would be in capa- ble hands. This time, I’m not so sure. For that reason, this time it’s not about enjoying the From the Editor’s Desk N ED H ICKSON felt their vision for our coun- try was better defined and suited the temperament of our changing world politically, economically or socially. Over the years, I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and Independents. I even voted for Ross Perot, whatever he was. In each case, voting was a privilege of voting as much as it is about accepting the obli- gation I have, as an American, to educate myself and make an informed decision. I can’t rely on spoon-fed rhetoric, head- lines, carefully staged inter- views, rants on social media or even many of the news sources that claim to be unbi- ased. I have to roll up my sleeves, dig in and do the work so that, come election day, I can do the right thing instead of the easy thing. I realize it still means vot- ing for one of these candi- dates. It still means feeling as if I’m being made to compro- mise the level of expectation I would normally have for someone who is supposed to represent my highest ideals as an American. And it still means I will have to accept — and live with — the results, no matter who is elected. However, to not vote would mean compromising my own ideals as an American, as well as the expectation our forefa- thers had for each of us when they fought for our right to vote in a democracy protected by the Constitution. As I said, there have been moments where the thought of casting my vote in this elec- tion has left me shaking my head. But come Nov. 8, when the votes are tallied and our next president is elected, knowing that I took the time to cast a truly informed vote in the spirit our forefathers intended will keep me from hanging my head instead. Please take the time to cast an informed vote. No matter who it is, I support your choice — not as a Democrat, Republican or Independent. I will support your choice as an American. Write Siuslaw News editor Ned Hickson at nhickson@thesiuslaw news.com or P.O. Box 10, Florence, Ore. 97439. LETTERS He is there for you Woody Woodbury is running for Lane County Justice of the Peace. I have known Woody for nearly 10 years. His honesty and integrity are beyond reproach. I have always found him visible in the com- munity, approachable in all settings, and accessible — if you need Woody, he is there for you. This is exactly what he brings to the people of Lane County. As a retired law enforcement officer, it is critically important to have a magistrate with those three qualities not only for the communi- ty he serves, but for local law enforcement who need an approachable and accessible magistrate to do their jobs effectively. Please join me in voting for Woody Woodbury for Lane County Justice of the Peace. Maurice K. Sanders Retired Florence Chief of Police If it’s not broken As election time draws near, I would like to remind readers that Florence and all Lane County residents will be voting for a Lane County Justice of the Peace, serving here in Florence. I would also like to remind others that we have an excellent candidate already fulfilling the Lane County Justice of the Peace position. Judge Rick Brissenden has been Florence’s Municipal Court Judge for the past 18 years. Due to a vacancy, Judge Brissenden was appointed Justice of the Peace beginning March 1, 2016, where he has been handling all of the JP duties, as well as the Municipal Court. He will serve out that appointment as JP until Dec. 31, 2016, no matter who wins this election. There is no reason to remove an expert who is doing his job, and replace him with a how- ever well-meaning citizen who will have to be trained for the position at tax-payer expense. Plus there would no doubt be a learning curve, to bring another candidate up to the speed and expertise of an 18-year Judge. Judge Brissenden has concrete ideas for helping bring services to more people in other parts of Lane County, not just to serve Florence. And he has the network and know- how to get the job done. If it’s not broken, why pay to fix it? Please join me in voting for Judge Rick Brissenden for Lane County Justice of the Peace, and help all of us have access to a just, experienced, knowledgeable Judge. Mary Beth Rawlins Florence Apples and oranges L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affect- ing the Florence area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaran- teed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters or poetry will not be published. All submissions become the proper- ty of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com USPS# 497-660 The writer of the letter “That $17,175” (Siuslaw News, Oct. 22) seems slightly con- fused. Measure 97 does not address gross prof- its. All levels of imposed taxation are geared to “sales” as reported on a tax form. The 2.5 per- cent levy is imposed upon corporations report- ing sales in excess of $25 million. They are taxed $30,001 plus 2.5 percent of reported sales in excess of $25 million. If the writer’s calculations are accurate, and he would have to pay $17,175 on a 2.5 percent tax imposed upon his gross profit, that means that his gross profit is $687,000 — in which case he surely wouldn’t need help paying for his granddaughters’ college or his employees’ bonuses. Equating his business to a corporation with sales in excess of $25 million is clearly a case of comparing apples to oranges. Bill Durst Florence Strong statement Florence Area Democrats Endorse Measures 97 and 98. Measure 97 is not a consumer sales tax. It is Small price to pay I am urging support for Western Lane Ambulance District (WLAD) and Measure 20- 266. Having personally required emergency medical attention in my home following recent surgery, I experienced first hand the expert and fine care that was administered to me. The two EMTs that responded provided excellent care at a very precarious time during my recovery. These two men skillfully assessed my situation, stabilized me and, more importantly (to me anyway) were able to assure my wife that I was in good hands prior to transporting me to the hospital. Measure 20-266 asks voters to extend the current levy, due to expire in 2017, in order to provide this essential service to the residents in the Western Lane County Ambulance District. Based on current median household values it is estimated that the measure would cost the average household approximately $7 a month to maintain this valuable service. In my opinion, $7 a month is a small price to pay to assure this vital service is available should you or a loved one need critical medical attention. Please vote “yes” on Measure 20-266. J. Kevin Leverton Dunes City Make a difference Mark Brennan’s Oct. 19 article highlighted one of Lane County’s finest nonprofit organi- zations and a great opportunity for volunteers to help kids in need. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) pairs volunteers (after careful training) with children who have been abused or neglected. A volunteer advocate helps a child to navigate the court system and speaks on behalf of the child so that he or she can be placed in the best possible long-term care setting. I am relatively new to CASA of Lane County, but I have been deeply impressed with the professionalism of the organization, the importance of the work being done, and the personal satisfaction of doing volunteer work that is important and appreciated. The training program, of which I have now completed the first half, is excellent: well- organized, thorough and comprehensive. For the benefit of volunteers who live outside of Eugene, it is now possible to take many of the classes locally through a “live” internet con- nection. There are children in the Florence area who are on a waiting list for a CASA volunteer. The need is great, and the demand for CASA vol- unteers is growing in Lane County and throughout Oregon. I hope that others will consider the engaging work of CASA through which they can make a significant difference in the lives of our chil- dren. Robert Orr Dunes City Shift the power In my opinion, a vote for Caddy McKeown is a vote for higher taxes, closing businesses, fail- ing schools and deteriorating roads. Her biggest accomplishment while represent- ing us has been being part of a group of legisla- tors advocating to bring back the rail system. I like trains; we all like them. However, I don’t like the fact that it is the most subsidized form of transportation and not fiscally sustainable. The recent train accident in Mosier revealed the dangerous condition our rail system is in. Federal investigators blamed aging equipment and lack of maintenance on this devastating crash. Our rails are old and require trains to run at lower speeds to avert catastrophe. We also found out that many trains are using breaking systems that were designed during the Civil War era. Oregon deserves better and it starts with shifting the power in Salem by ending one-party rule. District 9 has fairly equal voter registration between Democrats and Republicans. Electing Teri Grier is a good place to begin that transition. She has a wealth of knowledge and can help be a catalyst for change; it would be a shame if we voted for the status quo. Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” If we want change we need to vote for Teri Grier. Jacquie Beveridge Florence Copyright 2016 © Siuslaw News Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Advertising Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com WHERE TO WRITE Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry a tax that large corporations such as Comcast and Koch Industries will pay on sales in Oregon above $25 million. That tax can be absorbed by their nationwide pricing system. These companies benefit from Oregon’s public services while profiting from doing business in our state. As for Measure 98, a “yes” vote will send a strong statement to our legislators that voca- tional and career-technical programs are important to keep students engaged and increase the state’s high school graduation rate. Karin Radtke Florence Area Democratic Club Chairwoman Pres. Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov Gov. Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. Salem, OR 97301-4047 Governor’s Citizens’ Rep. Message Line 503-378-4582 www.oregon.gov/gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 State Rep. Caddy McKeown (Dist. 9) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603 541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 West Lane County Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 FAX: 541-682-4616 Email: Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us
